Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
~The Dare, the Hand Shake and the Challenge~
Summary: Before the start of the Seventh year term, Hermione and Ginny trick Draco into playing a muggle game of Dare throughout the school year. Voldemort is gone.

Ladies Night
Transfiguration Room
Three Weeks Later

There was a marked improvement in the common rooms but this improvement was starting to wear down the perfects of each house. Each one felt like they were babysitting, not studding to become witches.

"Mione," groans Millie as she tiredly leans back in her chair. "The Slytherin common room is clean but I'm tired of playing the babysitter to everyone."

"Yeah," agrees Ginny. "I hate to say it, but even Ron and Harry are being prats about keeping their stuff in their rooms and not in the common room."

"Does everyone feel this way," questions Hermione looking around she sees them all nod their heads. "Ok let me ponder on that one for a bit. Is there any other items we need to talk about?"

"Ah it's not really a… um," stumbles Jade. "It's not really a question. But are you and Draco dating?"

Laughing "God no. Where are you getting that from?"

"Well," states Millie. "You and Draco have been seen fighting, at lest three times a week."

Smiling wickedly, "Ladies let me give you a clue. Draco and I are not dating. In fact Draco is dating someone else. But since we're on the topic of dating, Kathy how is it going with Ron?"

Sighing, "its not. I swear that boy only thinks about is Quidditch."

"Yeah," groans Millie. "Quidditch fever is the only thing that is still the same since I started school."

"Ok," holding up her hand, Hermione states, "I have an idea." Smirking she continues, "but this also means that we all have to work together on this. Because we are going to threaten what the whole school loves the most."

"Really," purrs Kathy sitting up. "Do tell."

"It also means that we are going to have to forego a ball."

"Ok," laughs Ginny. "Now I'm interested."

"Me, too," replies the others.

"Ok, Everyone here knows that the Head's have a meeting with Dumbledore in the morning…." pausing to make sure that she has their attention. "Here is what I'm planning on doing. First I want him to cancel the..."

Transfiguration Room after the Meeting

Waving her wand around, Hermione cleans the room. There Professor McGonagal will be happy to note that her classroom is spotless. Taking one last look around the room, Hermione is satisfied that it was clean to her professor's standards.

"Are you ready to leave," asks Sirius startling Hermione for the doorway. "If so, let me escort you back to Gryffindor tower."

Calming her unsteady nerves, Hermione nods her head. "I'm all set. How did you know that I was here?"

Sirius smiles as he holds up an old bit of parchment. "I kind of cheated, you can say." Putting away the map, Sirius extents his arm. Feeling she light arm link with his, he again felt a jolt course through him. Merlin, I haven't felt that since the Feast.

Setting a slow pace to the tower, Sirius asks, "So what was the meeting about?"

Don't want him noising around. "Nothing much, really." Glancing at Sirius under her lashes Hermione's instantly knows that he wasn't buying her comment. "Some of the prefects are upset about how the common rooms look. So to come up with a plausible solution we had a meeting."

"Work anything out," asks Sirius as waifs of perfume tease his nose.

"Not really," answers Hermione. "I just had to listen to a lot of complaining."

Sniffing the air, Sirius leans closer to Hermione. "I'm sure you'll find a solution," reassures Sirius as he breaths in the air around her. Rose's, she smells like roses. Approaching the Fat Lady sudden inspiration hits him. Could Hermione be Eris?

Dumbledore's Office

"Ok, Draco and Hermione I think that will do," states Dumbledore as he strokes his long white beard. "I'll be announcing this latest development in two days time. I hope that gives you enough time to talk to all the houses."

"Thank you, Dumbledore," whispers a very pale and subdued Draco. Walking out of the headmaster's office. Draco wonders out loud, "what is going on?"

"Let's see Draco," sneers Hermione poking him in the chest with her finger. "Most of the school extra-activities are being canceled. And I know for a fact that more then half of the student population is failing and it's not even the end of November. I also know that Dumbledore is planning on terminating …."

"WHAT?"

Radiates down the hall, spilling into the dinning hall. The student body currently eating breakfast, pauses then resumes eating. Dismissing the shout as another one of Hermione and Draco's fights.

A ferocious Draco Malfoy storms into the room. Followed closely by Hermione Granger who is rapidly trying to catch up to him. They stop at each of the tables, speaking to the prefects. Upon reaching the Gryffindor table, Harry and Ron glare at Malfoy when he gets close enough.

"Listen here Gryffindor, there was an emergency meeting with Dumbledore. Classes are done today at one, be in your common room. We," pointing to himself and Hermione, "will be in to tell you what is going to happen from now on."

"As if," snaps Ron.

"Ron," hisses Hermione. "Keep your cool. Dumbledore is really pissed off. Just go to the common room, trust me." With that both Hermione and Draco walk away.

List of Dares so far:

Chapter 1:
Hermione and Ginny trick Draco into playing Dare.

Chapter 2:
Hermione dares Draco to push her into Sirius.

Chapter 3:
Draco dares Hermione to wear red robes all year, her house color.

Chapter 4:
Hermione dares Draco to change his hairstyle, with some muggle highlights.
Draco dares Hermione not to participate in class (no answering question,) all but Potions for one day.

Chapter 5:
Hermione dares Draco to taunt her about the Flying NEWT.
Draco dares Hermione to help him with his costume for the Feast.

Chapter 6:
No Dares were exchanged.

Chapter 7:
Draco dares Hermione goof off in Snape's class.

Chapter 8:
No Dares were exchanged.

Chapter 9:
No Dares were exchanged.

Chapter 10:
No Dares were exchanged.

Chapter 11:
Harry and Ron set off a dungbomb, but no Dares were exchanged.

Chapter 12:
Hermione has a Ladies Night.
No Dares were exchanged.